HOW TO TAKE CARE OF LONG HAIR

These days, everyone is too caught up in their busy and chaotic lives that it’s really difficult to actually wake up early, blow-dry our hair, apply expensive leave-in products, comb carefully through all those deadly locks and survive through the irons and the rollers. I never really followed the dos and don’ts for my hair personally, however, when some of my friends asked me the secret of my healthy hair, I ended up compiling the below mentioned list, which I practice regularly and without fail. I am not an expert however this is something which I follow and I am pretty happy with the results.

WASH YOUR HAIR MAX TWICE OR THRICE A WEEK

A perennial question of women, how often should I wash my hair? No matter how much you long for the clean, dust-free locks, washing your hair every day is something which everyone should avoid. A New York-based hair stylist Dan Sharp explains “Your hair’s natural oils are designed to condition and protect your tresses, so when you shampoo daily, it strips these vital oils away.” He adds by saying “It creates a vicious cycle of over-production of oils and a need to shampoo very often. Ideally, to keep your hair healthy, you only need to wash two to three times a week, max.” Many of the people who I know wash their colored hair way more than they should be doing. The logic is that shampoo tends to take away the color from your hair. You can simply rinse and condition your hair every alternate day or can use good quality hair serums to make them look good between the hair washes.

USE SOME GOOD DRY SHAMPOO

If you have an oily scalp just like mine, I know how frustrating it might get when oil starts wicking down your hair. You don’t necessarily need to shampoo your hair every day. Instead, use dry shampoo to clean your scalp. This will help reduce the oiliness and will ensure a good look for your hair too.

SHAMPOO YOUR SCALP AND NOT YOUR ENDS

Always remember to shampoo your scalp and condition the ends. This is the mantra which most people don’t follow and end up damaging the ends. It makes your hair weaker and results in hair damage.

SAY NO TO HOT WATER

Yes, you heard that right. When you wash your hair with hot water, it makes the hair dry and results in tangles and breakage.

TOWEL-DRY HAIR BEFORE CONDITIONING

Ideally, one must pat dry shampooed hair before conditioning it because the conditioner won’t be able to penetrate through wet hair and deliver the necessary moisture. However, considering the practical shortcomings, I know everyone runs short of time when it comes of hair wash, specifically long hair. Hence, it’s advisable to at least squeeze the excess water post shampooing and prior to conditioning.

TREAT YOUR HAIR NICELY AND IT WILL REPAY EXACTLY THE SAME WAY

It’s not easy to maintain long hair, but it’s not that difficult either. I believe everyone must at least brush through their hair twice each day. Once in the morning, and before going to bed. Do that gently. Go easy with them. The harsher you are while brushing your hair, the chances of hair damage increases.

NEVER COMB WET HAIR

You must have been very familiar with this one though, it’s one of the most important things to be kept in mind when handling your hair. Wet hair break the most and so it’s not recommended to comb through wet hair. And if you are running late for that meeting, at least blow dry your hair first and then comb through. Always use a wide-tooth comb.

AVOID BLOW DRYING

I am sure most of you would not agree with me on this one but this is something which I strongly believe and have experienced personally. If you are in a habit of blow-drying your hair every time you wash your hair, your hair in this case is more susceptible to damages. Heat damages the hair – that’s the logic. So, even if you are doing it and there’s no way to avoid blow-drying your hair, you should at least keep the heat really low.

OIL YOUR HAIR ATLEAST ONCE A WEEK

As a kid, I never realized the importance of oiling my hair. But over the time, I have understood the importance of oil for hair. If not regularly, try and oil your hair at least once every week. I oil my hair at least a couple of hours before washing it off using a shampoo. A combination of castor oil and coconut oil can do wonders. Try it.

TRIM YOUR HAIR

Although I am not a follower of this one, experts claim that trimming hair every few weeks ensures getting rid of those dangerous split ends which hinder your hair growth.

Paying careful attention to your hair certainly will help grow and nurture them in the best way possible. Do share if you have any home remedies or tips for healthier hair.